S10 Swap how to

[Sim6]

Those you have linked are for the radiator Not the cab if I understand you correctly. The rear cab mounts need a spacer to clear the U brace that runs underneath the back. I thought I remember Chris posting that he was using the S10 core support bushings because they would fit into the U brace without modification. They were narrower.
Jeff

[Clay54]

Thanks Jeff, for your quick response. I can send you the e-mail from Chris that he sent me when I ask about this very thing. I thought he was talking about some small round support but this is the link he sent me. Yes, in my opinion, the S10 support is still used and these are in addition. First the cab stand then the S10 support and then these or the delron spacer to go in that space you are calling the "U brace".

I was hoping someone that had done this could comment about using these mounts. Thanks again, Clay

[Sim6]

Clay, check out posts #222-225 on page 9.
Jeff

[Clay54]

Originally Posted by skymangs

Ayup... What ghetto luxury said...

I have a new tip I just figured out. Instead of using the DeLeon spacer and cutting the rear mounts 1\2" shorter on the 51-54 cabs, you can make them normal height, and use the s10 core support bushings instead. They are smaller diameter than the cab bushings, and will tuck right into the 51-54 rear cab brace.

Thanks again Jeff. That's the one I have been looking for. When I first read this, I began to look for S10 core support bushings and could not really find anything and I questioned Chris by e-mail and that is when he responded with the link I posted above saying "this is what I use".

I have been searching through all the builds that Chris has posted trying to find the above comment. Thought I had lost my mind but I knew Chris made the comment somewhere on this website. I have read this S10 swap sticky time and again and I guess I just past it up. Appreciate the help. Got your PM and will get that e-mail to you soon. Thanks, Clay

[Coldshot]

Clay, I responded to Chris when he brought it up. I'm using an energy suspension bushing kit and the smaller bushings came in the kit for the front clip bushings. Kit was about $80
I unfortunately had already followed the 1/2" drop suggested and when I put it together I thought I did something wrong cuz I went straight to the smaller bushings for the cab and the "C" brace dropped right over them. I added 1/2" worth of washers on top for now. Will need a permanent fix later.

Just order new bushings, the non poly's are cheap (I got poly) you see the bushings and it will make complete sence.
I'll try to get a pic up on here if I can

[Clay54]

Coldspot, a picture would be great, I would really appreciate that. So far, this does not compute to me. Is there anything you are using that looks like the bushings shown in the link I provided above? Thanks for your help. Clay

[Sim6]

clay,
what part doesn't make sense? Why the cab mounts are different heights from front to rear? why there are 3+ inches off the frame? Or what to use that will fit in the rear brace?
Jeff

[Coldshot]

The reason for the 1/2" difference is because the normal cab bushings are pretty fat. The other bushings are thinner. The "C" brace thing under the cab where you mount to wont go over the regular cab bushing but the front bushings are thinner in girth so they fit into the "C" the "C" is 1/2" deep. I just used all front mounts under my cab from the poly bushing kit worked great.

I'll take some pics when ever I get home.

Long 14+ hr days never end I tells yea

[Coldshot]

In that pic the very front pair and the smaller bushings you can see there 4 larger ones landed up in the second row and the rest are the corasponding peace's that go underneeth.
If you get an extended cab kit you get 4 small ones like I did or you can just use the smalls for the back and normals for the front. I couldn't open the link you posted, but these are what I have and they are pretty cheap.
You can always just use delrin pucks or shaved down hockey pucks, anything will work lol

[Clay54]

Coldshot. thanks. Pictures are worth a thousand words. I assume these are S10 bushings of some sort. These bushings are what I thought Chris was referring to when he sent me that link that shows some long somethings that don't make any sense to me at all. Now I think I might be back on track, I have seen some kits that have what looks like the bushing you show on the second row setting on top of S10 cab mount bushings. And no, I will not cut the rear mounts 1/2 inch shorter. Thanks again.

Jeff (Sim6), I understand why the cab stands are different height-not sure about the 3" off the frame though. Different height is to level the cab on the frame, I think. Yes it has always been what goes in that C brace. Chris stated to use something instead of the delron and when he sent me that link which was very confusing as those long black pieces of rubber just didn't make any sense to me. I know we have discussed this previously and you suggested Chris might have misunderstood what I had ask him. Not sure and it doesn't matter now as I think I now know what he may have been referring to.

Thanks to you both. Clay

[fredscarryall]

Here are the measurement I have actually measured and just some info I collected. Hope this helps others. It worked great for me. I don't have any info on the s blazer but that could be another option for a rear axle. For those who don't know what a gov lock is. It's a gm locker. Some call it a posi but it seems to work like a limited slip to me.To test if it works ,you have to be spinning the wheels at about 10 mph. When one wheel slips the other will engage.To get both wheel to spin in the same direction. But in most cases that's not possible.so another way is th spin one wheel really hard and fast. You should here a little clunk and both wheels should spin in the same direction. In non lock mode both wheels will spin in the opposite direction. This info is not gaurantee. Gm does odd things at times. You should always double check.

S10 zr2 Wms to Wms is 63" 8.5 axles factory gov lock and 3.73 ratio

S10 4x4 Wms to Wms 58" hard to find in gov locker 7.5 and 7.62 and some 8.5 axles

S10 2wd Wms to Wms 54.5" 7.5 and 7.62 axles

Center of spring perch to center spring perch is 38 1/2"

Option codes to s10 for rear axles found in glove box door or drivers door sticker
G80 gov lock locker
Gu1 2.41
Gu2 2.73
Gu3 2.93
Gu4 3.08
Gu5 3.23
Gu6 3.42
Gt4 3.73
Gt5 4.10
Hc4 4.56
Attached Images

[fredscarryall]

Here's a picture of a 1998 S10 ZR2 8.5 rear axle with 63" wms to wms (wheel mount surface to wheel mount surface) With gov lock and 3.73 ratio. 38.5" center spring perch to center spring perch so it will fit perfect on s10 leaf springs. This info is not always a gaurantee, gm seem to do odd things at times.

[fredscarryall]

Here a pic to show the difference in axles

[rtinniste]

Originally Posted by fredscarryall

Here a pic to show the difference in axles

Good info I remember this pic when i was searching for my rear axle. Everyone i called had no clue if it was a 7.5 or 8.5 and people that knew they had a 8.5 want $500 plus.

Another note about rear ends I'm running a 7.5" 4wd axle from a blazer and my rear calipers hit my bedsides so I had to cut about 3 inches up to clear the brakes. That should only apply to bagged trucks that will lay running boards or low static rides I'm not c notched either btw.

And the stock s10 wheels also have about a 1/2" of clearence against the bed so watch your backspacing anything more then 3.75 won't work the stock 15x7 3.75 s10 wheels will rub when the suspension flexs unless you use spacers. Get the zr2 axle should be perfect.

I'd just hate to see someone waste money on a standard 4wd axle and have that issue doesn't bug me because i was planning on reverse offsets anyways so that equates to deeper lips!! I just cringed when i had to take my cutoff wheel to my original bed that's rot free oh well

[rtinniste]

Originally Posted by fredscarryall

Here are the measurement I have actually measured and just some info I collected. Hope this helps others. It worked great for me. I don't have any info on the s blazer but that could be another option for a rear axle. For those who don't know what a gov lock is. It's a gm locker. Some call it a posi but it seems to work like a limited slip to me.To test if it works ,you have to be spinning the wheels at about 10 mph. When one wheel slips the other will engage.To get both wheel to spin in the same direction. But in most cases that's not possible.so another way is th spin one wheel really hard and fast. You should here a little clunk and both wheels should spin in the same direction. In non lock mode both wheels will spin in the opposite direction. This info is not gaurantee. Gm does odd things at times. You should always double check.

S10 zr2 Wms to Wms is 63" 8.5 axles factory gov lock and 3.73 ratio

S10 4x4 Wms to Wms 58" hard to find in gov locker 7.5 and 7.62 and some 8.5 axles

S10 2wd Wms to Wms 54.5" 7.5 and 7.62 axles

Center of spring perch to center spring perch is 38 1/2"

Option codes to s10 for rear axles found in glove box door or drivers door sticker
G80 gov lock locker
Gu1 2.41
Gu2 2.73
Gu3 2.93
Gu4 3.08
Gu5 3.23
Gu6 3.42
Gt4 3.73
Gt5 4.10
Hc4 4.56
Attached Images

Also olds bravada should all be gov locked and I think I saw somewhere that they are the 8.5 but my neighbor that runs the local pick a part said that's not true. I havent looked that deep into it just when i was cruising the web.
But the bravada axles seem more plentiful and better priced. Car-part.com also helps when your on your search!!

[HUSSEY]

^^^^^
That's what I got my axle out of and it's 7.625 ring. The code on the Glove Box was GT4 G80, that is, 3.73, Posi.

I too have heard the 8.5 came in these but I don't believe it, never seen an 8.5 in a Blazer or Bravada, any year. I have heard you can find an 8.5 in a 4x4 manual trans, never seen one of these trucks at a yard though.

If I had known about it, I would have gotten a 8.8 out of an Explorer and after a certain year, 2000 I think, they all had Posi and Disk brakes. And best of all, they practically right drop into an S10.

http://v8s10.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5279

[old yelr]

The 8.5 came in all S10's and Sonoma's (1998 to 2003 not sure of the previous generation) that were equipped with a manual transmission, 2wd trucks had the narrowest version and 4wd ZR2 trucks had the widest version.

[steve aleve]

I know I have seen it on this website before but I can't seem to find it now. I am looking for info on an application for an AD truck with an s10 swap and what steering shaft options there are. I have seen astro van parts and jeep cherokee parts but I am not totally clear on what exactly to mix and match. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve

[Cautrell05]

Originally Posted by old yelr

The 8.5 came in all S10's and Sonoma's (1998 to 2003 not sure of the previous generation) that were equipped with a manual transmission, 2wd trucks had the narrowest version and 4wd ZR2 trucks had the widest version.

Not trying to step on your toes, but the only s10 that had the 8.5 rear end was the four-wheel-drive zr2. All of the rest of them had the 7.5.

[HUSSEY]

Originally Posted by Cautrell05

Not trying to step on your toes, but the only s10 that had the 8.5 rear end was the four-wheel-drive zr2. All of the rest of them had the 7.5.

It's funny, just earlier today I heard a quote, "Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see", which applies so well to this topic.

I've heard what the elusive S10 8.5 in. is in so many different ways, from enthusiasts, car junkies, self proclaimed S10 subject matter experts, and dealer mechanics or parts counter guys. Everyone has a different answer.

Before I believe anything, I'm going to have to see it with my own eyes or receive a personally signed and notarize options list from Mary Barra herself.

[Cautrell05]

Car junkie and GM dealer mechanic since 95 here.

[47owner]

The standard rear axle that comes on a 1993 4.3L V6, S10 will work with 2" spacers?

[Sim6]

Originally Posted by 47owner

The standard rear axle that comes on a 1993 4.3L V6, S10 will work with 2" spacers?

It will work just looks a little narrow. That's what I'm running for now. Also depends on your power plant. That rear end won't hold up to buku power. Not what the threshold is.
Jeff

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Cautrell05

Not trying to step on your toes, but the only s10 that had the 8.5 rear end was the four-wheel-drive zr2. All of the rest of them had the 7.5.

the 98-03 xtreme trucks and blazers with the 4.3 and 5 spd trans did indeed come with an 8.5 rear, thats in fact the easiest way to find an 8.5 for a 2wd. also, the 94-03 trucks and blazers with the 4.3 and 5 spd could have an 8.5, but it wasnt a sure thing for all of them, I forget the RPO code to look for but google will have it.

[47owner]

I want to keep the entire drive train of the S10.